Board # 26 : Reversing the Hierarchy of Causation and Effect in Civil Engineering and Construction Management Courses

Sami Maalouf; Anwar Alroomi

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Conference: 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Publication Date: June 24, 2017
Start Date: June 24, 2017
End Date: June 28, 2017
Conference Session: Civil Engineering Division Poster Session
Tagged Division: Civil Engineering
Page Count: 14
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--27816
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/27816
Download Count: 566

Paper Authors

biography

Sami Maalouf California State University, Northridge orcid.org/0000-0001-5303-371X

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My research and teaching interests are based on developing and enhancing techniques that can be used to improve the environment. My research interests are centered on environmental fluid mechanics (water quality models, turbulence, transport phenomena, stratified flow, surface and groundwater flow and contamination) and sustainable development (heat disposal, alternative energy systems, hydro-electric power and energy conservation).

Current research focuses on modeling of the fate and transport of constituents and contaminants in large water bodies, especially around coastal zones. The ongoing work addresses measures to deal with brine effluent from seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants. This research explores practical measures on what is required to be done (both in light of coastal water salinity rise, due to brine discharge, and in terms of economic measures in constructing optimal and cost-efficient outfalls) when desalination facilities are present.

Besides coastal and environmental matters, I have an interest in researching engineering education and finding ways to enhance and optimize the teaching/learning experience and build a bridge between fundamental engineering disciplines and practical applications in the civil engineering field.

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biography

Anwar Alroomi California State University, Northridge

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Anwar Alroomi currently is an Assistant Professor working at California State University - Northridge (CSUN). She taught a year as adjunct professor at Oklahoma State University. She earned her Ph.D. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Oklahoma State University (2013), and earned her BS. and MS. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Kuwait University.

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Abstract

This paper establishes an approach for integrating civic engagement and service learning into freshman courses and senior capstone classes within civil engineering and construction management (CECM). The aim is to help produce an environment where students learn from each other while on internship. This may create a greater synergy between their coursework and actual community projects.

The CECM curriculum prepares students to be operative members in the society’s infrastructure. As such, CECM faculty recognizes the benefit in combining service learning activities into beginning engineering courses, as well as capstone courses. This is done by planning a feasible project with a community-based organization, having both beginning and senior level engineering students engage in it over a period of one to two semesters.

The paper discusses an effective approach on how to integrate learning in a reverse hierarchical manner. It also presents measures to evaluate both successes and failures of this approach. The projected longevity of the approach, tackling various projects, is integrated into the study. The two CECM faculty members also discuss the viability of transferring this approach to other universities and engineering colleges.

Citation
Format

Maalouf, S., & Alroomi, A. (2017, June), Board # 26 : Reversing the Hierarchy of Causation and Effect in Civil Engineering and Construction Management Courses Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--27816